Half of a stolen pizza oven returned

TOWN OF DARIEN--Half of a stolen pizza oven has been returned to a town of Darien business owner, according to a Walworth County Sheriff's office release.

A contractor found part of the large oven the evening of Oct. 28 in the parking lot of the business where it had been stolen 11 days earlier--the former Johnny Angel's Pizzeria and Pub, W7404 Highway X.

The entire pizza oven was stolen Oct. 17 from outside the business that is undergoing renovations, according to the release.

It is valued at about $7,000, Walworth County Sheriff's detective Robert Sharp said.

Video surveillance shows half the oven was loaded on the bed of a truckshortly before 4 p.m. Oct. 17, and the truck traveled south to Interstate 43. A car, described as a station wagon,followed the truck.

Shortly before 6 p.m., video footage shows the truck leaving the business with the other half of the oven in its bed, traveling south to Interstate 43.

The owner told deputies that several people would have been needed to steal the oven because of its weight and size.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 262-741-4424 or call the Walworth County CrimeStoppers at 262-723-2677.